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But besides the structural and mechanical inspection, inspectors may also do tests for radon gas, check for wood destroying insects, or perform other ... Radon Gas Basements.
Tuesday, 29 March 2011
Thursday, 24 March 2011
Sunday, 20 March 2011
Dealing With A Flood Damaged Home
There are few things more distressing and disruptive to the average homeowner than the havoc that water damage can cause. Whether it is from flooding, natural or unnatural, or what seemed like just a small leak just a few days before, the chaos and destruction excess moisture can cause can be devastating.
Unfortunately, in many Cases, there is more to dealing with water damage than locating the source of the water and getting out the wet/dry vac. The full extent of the damage from a leak is often not immediately visible; problems often lurk behind drywall and insulation or under the floors, so calling in a professional general contractor to access the damage as soon as possible is crucial.
The reasons for calling in a pro are twofold. Firstly, removing areas of drywall and other structural elements can potentially cause even more damage than the original flood, so it is not a job for an amateur, even one who is very DIY savvy. The second reason is your insurance claim.
The procedure for making a successful claim requires a great deal of documentation that must be accurately completed, which a general contractor can help you do. Many flood insurance policies even mandate that repair work must be carried out by a licensed professional for the claim to be considered.
There can sometimes be a silver lining to the whole nightmare that is a flood. You can take this as an opportunity to restore or completely revive the look of the affected area, or to upgrade electrics or plumbing work that have been temporarily exposed by the removal of drywall.
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Thursday, 17 March 2011
Radon - The Invisible Killer
Radon is a colorless, tasteless, naturally occurring radioactive gas found in soil and rock that is a by-product of decaying uranium. You might be thinking, I've heard of uranium, don't they make bombs from that? Well, yes they do, but uranium occurs naturally in rocks all around the globe. Some areas have a natural propensity to have higher concentrations of uranium than others.
Why radon is dangerous
We are all walking around with a bit of radiation in our bodies, and radon is by far the largest contributor to a person's overall amount of radiation they are carrying around. Breathing high doses of radon has been scientifically proven to cause lung cancer. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, radon could be the second most frequent cause of lung cancer, after cigarette smoking causing 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year in the United States. Radon-induced lung cancer ranks as the 6th leading cause of cancer deaths overall. Other forms of cancer may be related to radon exposure. Studies are underway to see if there exists a relationship between radon exposure and leukemia.
Where radon is
Remember radon gas is formed as a by-product of soil containing granite or shale (the two of which carry larger than average amounts of uranium). But we're talking very small amounts. On average, every square mile of surface soil, to a depth of 6 inches, contains only 1 gram of radium which is responsible for releasing radon into the atmosphere. Worldwide, the amount of radon varies greatly and is variable within a given region and even from room to room in a house.
Is radon in my home?
Radon exits the ground and can seep into your home through cracks and holes in the foundation. Radon gas can also contaminate well water. We know that radon concentrations are usually higher in areas near major fault lines so in Southern California we should be aware and take the proper precautions.
Knowing the characteristics of radon gas should help protect you and your family from exposure. First, radon gas being heavier than air tends to settle in low lying areas. With adequate ventilation, radon gas cannot become concentrated to a level to cause harm. On the other hand, in enclosed areas such as inside buildings, basements and crawl spaces, radon gas levels can become harmful. Second, if you smoke, stop! The effects of radon exposure in people that smoke is synergistic; i.e. the effect of smoking coupled with higher than average levels of radon exposure is greater than the sum of the two parts measured separately.
The EPA claims that 1 in 15 U.S. homes has radon levels above the recommended guideline. Their guideline of what is acceptable is roughly equivalent to receiving 200 chest x-rays over one's lifetime. Their current recommendation (and that of the US Surgeon General) is that all homes be Monitored for radon levels.
How to test for radon
Home kits are available in most home centers but it is claimed that their results might not be reliable. A better option would be to hire a professional home inspector with experience in radon testing. Professional tests are reliable in determining if your home has areas in it where radon levels are above the threshold set forth by the EPA. The tests are non-invasive and begin by placing a measurement device near the floor on the lower level of the home. Additional tests may be recommended by the inspector if you have any granite surfaces in your home, like a kitchen countertop. Other than placing the collection devices where recommended, nothing is done. There are some specific instructions that you must follow regarding the testing site(s) like keeping the windows and doors shut as much as possible. Testing may have to be postponed if your area is experiencing high winds or a pending storm, or if humidity levels are high (all of which may adversely affect the test results).
The inspector will return in 2-7 days to collect the devices after which time they are sent to a lab for analysis. Results are usually available shortly thereafter.
How to remove radon
The EPA recommends you use mitigation (control) techniques to reduce indoor radon if levels in your home are above the recommended threshold. Mitigation methods include adding positive pressure ventilation in your home which effectively creates a pressure differential (higher pressure in your home, gas cannot flow in). Sealing all floor penetrations to help prevent the gas from seeping into your home from below is also a good idea. Be advised that ventilating your basement or crawl space IS NOT RECOMMENDED as some people suggest. This flawed mitigation technique practiced by many companies could have the adverse effect of bringing more radon gas in which naturally exists outside the footprint of your home's foundation.
Homebuyers: be sure to read this
If you are in the process of purchasing a home ask your Realtor to include a radon contingency in your offer to purchase. This clause states the maximum level of radon that is acceptable to you and your family. Afterwards, hire a company to survey the home for radon gas levels. Radon testing is offered by most professional home inspection companies so be sure to ask this question when interviewing home inspectors in your area. If radon levels are found to be above the levels set by you in your contingency, this clause will afford you the right to back out of the contract without penalty.
Facts to remember about radon gas
Just because your next door neighbor's house has tested high for radon gas does not mean your home is at risk.
Houses with basements are not at a higher risk for radon than houses without basements.
Radon levels vary region to region, and even from house to house on the same street.
Thursday, 10 March 2011
Radon Test Kit
Radon can be very devastating. In fact, living without being sure of radon levels in your house is quite risky. Therefore, to get clear analysis on the levels of this gas, you'll definitely need a radon test kit. This kits are available from National safety council, and they come in low prices that even cover lab analysis and postage costs.
A radon test kit will normally be accompanied by instructions on how to go about while measuring. Afterwords, the kit is sent to the laboratory for analysis and depending on the complexity of the test, the period within which you'll get the results may vary. Where exactly will you place your kit? Well, even though it may be provided for in the instructions, it's better if you placed on the lowest part of the house e.g the basement. Such places as the bathroom, kitchen, hallway or the laundry room have high moisture levels and will tamper with the accuracy of the results.
If your living room, bedroom or the study are located in the ground floor, then this are the areas that should be tested first. However, make sure that you or anyone else does not move the kit when in sampling process. Generally the kits are found in variety of types and thus you should specify the type you're interested in while making the order. You can either buy online or order one trough the phone.
Normally, the gas levels will vary from time to time and thus you should use the radon test kit as often. However, in Case you change the ventilation systems, you renovate the house or there are earthquakes and so on, then you should test for radon levels again.
Friday, 4 March 2011
Dirt Crawl Spaces - America's Housing Epidemic (Making Your Home More Energy Efficient and Healthier)
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Post Date : Mar 04, 2011 11:20:27 | Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Dirt Crawl Spaces - America's Housing Epidemic (Making Your Home More Energy Efficient and Healthier)
Dirt crawl spaces are unhealthy, inefficient and negatively affect the rest of the house and the people who live there. There are an estimated 26 million homes with dirt crawl spaces in the United States alone - and most of them are vented. These spaces increase energy costs for their owners by 15% to 35%, and are most often damp or worse - causing mold and rot in the building. This book addresses this problem and solutions. There is no shred of evidence or science that says vented dirt crawl spaces makes sense, and tons of evidence right before our eyes that says they are a serious problem. Yet over 250,000 new homes and thousands of additions are built each year with dirt crawl spaces. The building code not only allows dirt crawl spaces, but actually made the problem worse by requiring them to be vented. Homeowners, and the U.S. economy are paying the price in so many ways. It's time for something to be done - right now.
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